Despite finishing runners-up in the Premier League for the first-time in eleven years, it’s fair to say that Arsenal expected more from their campaign this term and will be eyeing some major summer business to improve their fortunes for next season.
One of the main points of attention for Arsene Wenger this summer will be his midfield ranks, which have been depleted due to injuries over the course of the past year and are now lacking numbers following the departures of veteran trio Mikel Arteta, Tomas Rosicky and Mathieu Flamini.
The European Championships in France will be heavily scouted by the Gunners, and the rest of Europe’s elite clubs this summer, and Arsenal could find the perfect midfielder within the tournament, although they could face some fierce competition.
We’ve dug into the squad sheets and identified some targets Arsenal should definitely move for ahead of the big kick-off in Paris next month.
Hit Wenger below to see FIVE Euro 2016 midfielders he has to move for this summer!
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N’Golo Kante
A recent emergence in the French football set-up, Leicester City midfielder N’Golo Kante has attracted a wealth of interest following his phenomenal campaign with the Premier League winners this season and there’s now a fierce fight for his services.
With Arsenal having lacked a serious combative midfielder since the days of Gilberto Silva, Kante would be the perfect addition to the Gunners set-up and would provide fierce competition for Francis Coquelin, or end up being the ideal partner for his compatriot.
Whilst Leicester City don’t want to sell, money talks and Arsenal have the right links to make a deal happen.
Granit Xhaka
A name that could end up transferring to Arsenal before a ball is kicked at the European Championships, Granit Xhaka has been heavily outspoken regarding a move to the Premier League and has stated he wants his future resolved before his campaign with Switzerland begins.
Xhaka, 23, is the ideal box-to-box midfielder for Arsenal and can be seen as the ideal successor to veteran Spaniard Santi Cazorla, who at 31-years-old has just one-year remaining on his deal in north London and is tipped to leave at the end of next season.
With Arsenal said to already be deep in negotiations with Borussia Monchengladbach, Xhaka is the most likely player to sign on this list.
Isco
A name that’s been heavily linked to Arsenal throughout recent seasons, the Gunners have a solid chance of finally landing the Spaniard in the summer as it has been stated they have an agreement with Real Madrid to discuss a deal for the former Malaga man this summer.
Isco has found himself regularly absent from the first-team picture at the Santiago Bernabeu and wants more regular football, which Arsenal can offer him, and his services will appeal due to the fact he has the ability to play in the centre or out-wide.
Another candidate to succeed Cazorla, Isco could also be the missing link in Arsenal’s attacking trio alongside Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez.
Paul Pogba
Perhaps an unrealistic target, any Arsenal fan would love to see French powerhouse Paul Pogba leave Juventus for the Emirates Stadium. However, with competition against the likes of Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona in the market, it’s unlikely to occur.
Still, even making a move for Pogba would be a major statement of intent from Arsenal and on the off-chance they managed to land his services, they’d hand themselves one of the best midfielders in world football and would boast one of the biggest names in the Premier League.
If this were to happen, it would change the course of Arsenal as we know them.
Mario Gotze
Returning to more realistic options, Arsenal would have received a boost last night to see Liverpool lose the Europa League final and subsequently miss out on Champions League football next term. Whilst Jurgen Klopp is adamant it won’t change their transfer market approach, it could be decisive.
Mario Gotze is likely to leave Bayern Munich after an indifferent few seasons in Bavaria and Arsenal’s offer of Champions League football could be too good to turn down, whilst, like Isco, he can also play out-wide if needed.
Klopp’s relationship with the German World Cup winner may be decisive but Arsenal have links of their own, through Gotze’s compatriots Mesut Ozil and Per Mertesacker.
